With time, technology keeps updating and changing. The video game industry is on a similar role, the gaming industry is heading to a future where you may no longer require discs, game consoles or need to download compressed pc games to play their favourite games.
People will be able to stream their favourite games just as easily they can stream their favourite shows or movies on Netflix. Playing games online without downloading them or purchasing discs is called cloud gaming.
So is cloud gaming the future of the gaming industry? Cloud gaming is expected to revolutionize the way games are played, distributed, and sold. Cloud gaming has been around for a while but it had failed to take off earlier because of technological and economic constraints. But more and more people focusing on technology, cloud gaming is fast garnering momentum.
What is cloud gaming?
Cloud gaming is an innovative technology allowing users to play their favourite games directly from the cloud instead of using or downloading a gaming device or specific hardware.
Most video games require physical media to be purchased or downloaded into devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets or gaming consoles. The quality and performance of the game downloaded or played are optimized for each device.
Under cloud gaming, the execution of the content is moved from the consumer’s device to the cloud. Players can stream games and play them just like they stream videos on Netflix or Amazon Prime. The games are streamed as compressed video frames wherein the videos respond to user input.
When a button is pressed by the user to make a character jump, the input is sent to a remote server informing the game what has to be done. A new video frame of the character jumping is then sent to the user.
This passing of information and change in frames happen very quickly, in just a fraction of a second. The final output of the game is similar to the look and feel of a game downloaded onto a device.
Cloud gaming can provide fantastic gaming experiences to a wider audience. Gamers having a device or hardware limitations can also enjoy and play the same titles through a cloud with low latency.
The cloud gaming market is fast-growing and analysts are expecting its worth to become $450 million in 2023, up from the $45 million markets in 2017.
Google Stadia and Microsoft xCloud are some of the best cloud gaming platforms. Google Stadia can be operated on PCs or laptops having a Chrome browser, Pixel phones, or on a Chromecast Ultra dongle when plugged into an HDMI port of a TV.
Microsoft xCloud can be streamed on several devices like mobile phones and even on low powered desktops. Similar to streaming videos online, you can stream high-resolution, intensive games on a laptop or TV.
How can switching to cloud gaming be beneficial for the gaming industry?
Cloud gaming is being considered to be the future of the gaming industry, below mentioned are some of the benefits of cloud gaming:
-
Security
-
Compatibility
-
Reduced costs
In cloud gaming, the user data is stored on secure servers. The data is transferred through secure connections whereby eliminating any chances of hacking. Since the game and user data are stored on the cloud one does not have to worry about saving the data locally. Since the data is secured, the gamers can freely enjoy playing their games as they are assured that their private data is secured.
The highly scalable cloud platforms allow even high profile video games to be played on lower-end devices. While using gaming consoles and gaming devices, the users faced limitations with regards to processing power, graphics cards capacity, and memory storage. Thanks to a cloud platform the users no longer have to worry about the limitations and enjoy a fantastic gaming experience.
One of the key advantages of cloud gaming technology is reduced costs. Cloud gaming reduces the need for regular updating to the latest gaming system. Once the gaming hardware is acquired, you don’t have to worry about the future. One does not have to invest in buying the latest consoles every few years for enjoying improved game functionality since the GPU is held remotely. Whenever the game provider upgrades the system, the consumers can start using the new gaming platform immediately. Users are not required to pay for individual game titles, all they need to do is pay a subscription fee and enjoy a wide range of games at a lower cost.
-
Stops piracy
-
No device limitations
-
Variety of games
The cloud servers are highly secure and this can avoid piracy. The game content is maintained by preventing any manipulation of the game.
Most video games are can be played only on specific game consoles or computers. They cannot be played on other devices, hence they can be enjoyed only by the limited few who have access to those devices. With cloud gaming services the games are more platform-independent.
Through cloud gaming, users can access multiple games from one location. They can enjoy the gaming experience as they can choose from a wide variety of titles. The developers also earn more money as more users can access their games.
So, is cloud gaming the future?
Yes, we can say that cloud gaming is the future but it will not be an immediate or total shift. Hardcore gamers still enjoy the gaming console experience as they value latency and the overall gaming experience.
However, for casual gamers cloud gaming is an ideal option because of all the benefits. Cross-platform syncing is the key feature that makes cloud gaming an attractive prospect for users wanting to switch from traditional gaming.
There are many cloud solutions options available in the market which businesses can take advantage of. The cloud solutions can be customized depending on the requirements and budget and they range from public and hybrid to private cloud solutions options.
Integral Choice is the leading provider of cloud solutions for all sizes of businesses. Contact us today to speak with a staff member to learn more about how we can help you.